Don’t Count the South Out

If you listen to the pundits, you might think the South is a lost cause.

But I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve served as mayor of New Orleans, and I’ve won twice statewide in Louisiana. And I’m here to tell you: The South is not only alive with possibility – it’s essential to the future of American democracy as we fight against MAGA’s anti-voter extremism.

Donald Trump has done a lot of damage. He’s handed power to unelected billionaires, abandoned allies to curry favor with enemies, broken down the rule of law, and pushed policies that raise costs on working families while handing tax breaks to the rich. But his destructive actions and policy decisions are motivating Americans to fight back.

In red districts across the country, we’ve seen massive swings toward Democrats in special elections. From big cities to small towns, Americans are showing up, speaking out, and organizing to protect their freedoms. Here in Louisiana, we’ve seen it firsthand.

Earlier this year, Louisiana voters rejected a coordinated Republican power grab – voting down a package of four constitutional amendments that would have handed more control to Republican politicians. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because communities mobilized, spoke with clarity, and used the power of the vote to defend our democracy.

And Louisiana isn’t alone.

Across the South, the political map is shifting. In Mississippi, a Republican governor barely held on last fall – winning by just over 3 points. In North Carolina, Democrats swept five statewide offices in 2024. And in Georgia, the groundwork laid a decade ago flipped the state blue and gave Democrats control of the U.S. Senate in the 2021 runoffs.

These aren’t flukes. They’re signs of a region in motion – one where changing demographics, rising voter engagement, and strategic organizing are reshaping what’s possible. And MAGA extremism may be supercharging this engagement now by harming so many Americans.

Progress in the South doesn’t happen by accident. It takes early investment. It takes long-term planning and organizing that allows us to protect access to the ballot.

Just look at Georgia. A decade ago, few saw it as a battleground. But Stacey Abrams had the foresight to invest early and organize deeply. She inspired and empowered new voters – and it changed everything. Georgia went blue in a presidential election for the first time in 28 years, and the state sent the first Black and Jewish senators in its history to Washington. That didn’t just shift the balance of power – it proved what’s possible in the South.

That’s why I’m proud to stand with the pro-democracy movement in Louisiana and across the South. We know what we’re up against – voter suppression, disinformation, and political machines that rely on keeping people out of the process. But we also know how to fight back. And we’ve proven that when we do, we can win.

The South isn’t just part of America’s story – it’s central to it. And it will have a leading role to play in what comes next.

Let’s make sure we rise to meet the moment.

Mitch Landrieu is the former Mayor of New Orleans and Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.

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